European lawmakers voiced strong support for Taiwan at a National Day reception Wednesday, September 30, calling the self-governing island a reliable democratic partner and rejecting Beijing's intimidation. Speakers said cooperation among democracies strengthens resilience, comparing Taiwan and its partners to a school of fish that is stronger together. 

The Taipei Representative Office in the EU and Belgium hosted the reception at the Autoworld Brussels museum. Hundreds of guests attended, including European Union and Belgian officials, diplomats, and Taiwanese residents. Michael Gahler, chairperson of the European Parliament’s Taiwan Friendship Group, said Taiwan and the EU share commitments to democracy, freedom, the rule of law, and human rights. 

Gahler said European engagement with China would not change the European Parliament’s position on Taiwan. He also condemned what he called Beijing’s increasingly assertive provocations. Representative to the European Union and Belgium Shieh Jhy-wey (謝志偉) said China’s repeated use of UN General Assembly Resolution 2758 to claim Taiwan as part of China was misleading, noting that the resolution does not mention Taiwan. “Taiwan is not part of China. Taiwan is part of the world,” he said. 

Els Van Hoof, co-chair of the Belgian parliament’s Taiwan Friendship Group, said cooperation between Belgium and Taiwan could produce meaningful change. She said parliamentary exchanges require dialogue and should not be portrayed as attacks on the status quo. Shieh also highlighted Taiwan’s semiconductor industry, describing its advanced chips as products forged through intense pressure and cooperation with partners including the United States, Japan, the Philippines, Australia, and New Zealand.